The former Brazilian president detained after being deemed a flight risk

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Jair Bolsonaro has been taken into custody after authorities concluded he posed a definite escape threat while under home confinement.

The former head of state was convicted of planning a armed takeover in September and sentenced more than a 27-year term in prison, but he was staying under home detention pending appeals.

High Court Judge Alexandre de Moraes said the decision to arrest the 70-year-old politician was a safety action after recent developments came to light.

This encompassed seeking to disable his ankle monitor and a summons to a supporters' gathering that could "allow for a potential flight.

Legal Document Reveals Escape Concerns

In a document approving the custody, the magistrate said intelligence from the unit overseeing his home detention suggested the former leader's plan to remove the tracking monitor to ensure success in his flight.

This, it said, would be made easier by the confusion caused by the protest called by his child.

His child, his son Flávio, who holds office as a senator, called for a gathering of his followers near Bolsonaro's home to take place on the weekend.

Flávio Bolsonaro wrote on social media on last Friday: "Are you going to fight for your country, or watch it all from your mobile device there on your couch? I invite you to fight with us."

He said the demonstration would be so backers could "pray for his physical condition and for the return of democracy in our country."

Foreign Shelter Risks

Part of the magistrate's decision was the possibility of the former president's move to diplomatic missions near the residence, considering that the investigations revealed a record of organizing to ask for protection through a embassy office", a statement said.

The judicial paperwork underscores that the US embassy in the federal district, Brasilia, is situated around 8 miles from Bolsonaro's home.

Global Responses

His judicial problems have provoked anger from fellow right-wing populist American leader President Trump, prompting him to impose a fifty percent tax on goods coming from Brazil.

The former president is being held in a federal law enforcement building in the capital and will experience a detention review on the following day.

Recent Legal Requests

It was only on Friday that the his legal team asked the Supreme Court to authorize him to complete his entire prison term under home confinement, with electronic monitoring.

They also asked that the former president be permitted to leave his home for healthcare, saying he needed ongoing care for lung conditions and other illnesses.

Details of Guilty Verdict

Bolsonaro was determined responsible of leading a plot aimed at keeping him in power after he was defeated in the national vote to his political opponent, Lula.

Top judicial officials said that he knew of a scheme which involved plans to kill his opponent and his VP candidate, Alckmin, and to imprison and murder the presiding judge - the top judicial official who has been managing his judicial proceedings.

The scheme was stopped because it couldn't obtain the support of the armed forces officials. His successor was sworn in without problem on 1 January 2023.

But a seven days after, on January 8th, many Bolsonaro supporters attacked and damaged government buildings in the federal district, Brasília.

The security forces intervened and around fifteen hundred individuals were arrested.

The magistrates found that the demonstrators had been incited by Bolsonaro whose strategy, they said, was for the national armed forces to intervene, reestablish control and return him to office.

At the moment, Bolsonaro's lawyers called the 27 years and three months sentence unreasonably severe".

He was also barred from campaigning for office until the year 2060 - eight years later after the conclusion of his imprisonment.

The ex-leader called the court case a "witch hunt and said it was intended to stop him competing in the 2026 presidential election.

Jacob Mcknight
Jacob Mcknight

A passionate writer and explorer, sharing experiences and wisdom to inspire others on their personal journeys.